Overview

Grasshopper was appointed as part of Arup’s multi-discipline team to provide communications and engagement support to Welsh Government, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and Powys County Council on proposals for the Global Centre of Rail Excellence in Wales, at the head of the Dulais Valley.

What we did

Grasshopper designed, managed and implemented informal engagement activity as well as the statutory pre-application consultation (PAC) process.  We worked closely with Welsh Government and the project team to develop website content, organise and facilitate meetings and events, and managed traditional and social media to help encourage engagement. This included supporting briefings for Senedd Members as well as Ministerial announcements. We prepared a consultation report to submit with the planning applications summarising all engagement undertaken.

Outcome

The project received high levels of media coverage, stakeholder interest and local engagement with more than 450 people attending local drop-in events.

Planning permission was granted in July 2022.